Jack-of-all trades Jay Miller writes about boxing, high school sports and music. A native of West Bridgewater, he was captain of his high school track team. He played football at Stonehill College. He also played guitar, bass, sax, bongos and drums.
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Jack-of-all trades Jay Miller writes about boxing, high school sports and music. A native of West Bridgewater, he was captain of his high school track team. He played football at Stonehill College. He also played guitar, bass, sax, bongos and drums. He and a friend had a duo, covering Dylan and Creedence. While in grad school at Boston University, he spent many free afternoons at Fenway Park. He covered Marvin Hagler from bouts at Brockton High to Las Vegas, has written for The Ring, Fight Fax and Boxing Illustrated. He began reviewing music for The Patriot Ledger in 1986, along with all kinds of sports. He's been on the PawSox beat since about 1998. He once met Bo Diddley at the old K-K-K-Katies in Kenmore Square, and still wonders whatever happened to The Ultimate Spinach.

Ska music was all around Beantown in the mid-to-late 1980s, and Bim Skala Bim was at the forefront: they've reunited with a fine new CD and a show at the Middle East in Cambridge. Ohio rockers Red Wanting Blue shake it up at Brighton Music Hall.† Grateful Dead icon Bob Weir and Ratdog have cancelled their tour--including tonight's date at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in Boston. The Rebirth Brass Band boogies at The Sinclair in Cambridge.† Jennifer Teft sings at Tinker's Son in Norwell. Sam Gentile & Basic Black heat up Turner's Yard in Pembroke. Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun brings his jazz trio to Scullers in Boston. Echo & the Bunnymen have sold out their show at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston. Guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel's show at the Narrows Center in Fall River is sold out. Russ Costa's SongAsylum at Home Ice in Quincy. Tall Richard's blues at Full Sail in Plymouth.† Australian songsmith Jordie Lane at Club Passim in Harvard Square. SuperFly's weekly funk workout at The Beachcomber in Quincy, and it's drummer Bob's birthday. Feed Me gets down at The House of Blues in Boston. Grace Curran & Her High-Falutin' Band at Johnny D's in Somerville. Roberto Morbioli & Willie J. Laws at the Next Page in Weymouth.

FRIDAY'S BEST

The Oddball Comedy Tour has been one of the summer's surprise hits, with comics like Amy Shumer on the multi-act bill, and a reliably out-there headline set by Louis C.K., at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield. Country chartbusters Little Big Town have sold out their gig at The South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset. Songbird Tori Amos at the Opera House in Boston. Jazz royalty when Delfeayo Marsalis brings his quartet--including dad Ellis--to Scullers. King Jeremy--a new Pearl jam tribute--at The Beachcomber. Ten Foot Ganja Plant gets your reggae moves going at The Sinclair. Degrader and four more bands thunder into the C-Note in Hull for Metal Night. Gent Treadly--a jam band including saxman Charles Neville--warms up the Narrows Center. 4 in a Row jams at The Chilihead BBQ in West Bridgewater. Propagandhi gets down at Royale in Boston. Jesse Harris sings at Club Passim. The Plymouth Fury Band rocks The Ming Dynasty in Marshfield. No Filter--those female comics all over Youtube--touch down at The Wilbur Theater in Boston. Branded country-rocks Toby Keith's in Foxboro. Moe Pope jams at Brighton Music Hall. Fresh is the band at Tinker's Son.

SATURDAY'S BEST

Does anyone combine rock and hip-hop better than Linkin Park, at the Xfinity Center? The annual Green Harbor Roots & Blues Festival opens with a new Country Roots adjunct, as Girls Guns & Glory, Highway Ghosts, the inimitable Roy Sludge, and Albert Lee perform from noon to about 8 p.m. at the Marshfield Fair.† The Beachcomber hosts a 2-7 p.m. fundraiser concert for the Quincy Animal Shelter with numerous bands, followed by the Mojos at night. Jackson Browne in concert at The Opera House in Boston.† The Salem Jazz & Soul opens with Plymouth's Delta Generators on the bill, along with New Orleans horn-man Amadee Castanell. Wild Child--a Doors tribute--takes over The Paradise. Tokyo Tramps' blues at Chilihead BBQ. Pablo Palooza's funk dynamo at The C-Note. Barefoot Truth is back, and headlining the Sinclair. Justin Luke sings at Tinker's Son. The Willie J. Laws Band at The Ming Dynasty. The Radicals have a CD release party at the Middle East Upstairs. Johnny D's welcomes The Band That Time Forgot at 7:30 p.m., followed by the New York Funk Exchange at 10. Trailer Trash performs for the country crowd at Toby Keith's.† There's a Boston Emissions showcase with multiple bands at Brighton Music Hall. Memphis Rockabilly Band returns to the Randolph AmVets.

UPCOMING

Sunday is a big day for both music festivals: at Marshfield, the Green Harbor Roots Fest features the supergroup Southern Hospitality, along with Sarah Potenza, and Entrain among others; The Salem Jazz & Soul Festival offers Liquid Revolution, and several other acts. Also on Sunday, Austin Mahone performs at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion; while Miniature Tigers bite Brighton Music Hall. Tuesday Arcade Fire is sure to draw a big rock crowd to the Xfinity Center. Wednesday has three big ones: Chicago, with REO Speedwagon, at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion; blues-rocker Tommy Castro at Johnny D's; and soul-jazz saxophonist Elan Trotman at Scullers. Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson brings his own band to the Narrows Center on August 21; while the Music Circus in Cohasset hosts an Irish Music Festival that same night. The folk super-trio known as Redbird takes over Club Passim Aug. 20-22.† Soulman Jonny Lang headlines the House of Blues on Aug. 22, with Rich Robinson's band opening.† Big country shows continue in the area on Aug. 23 when Brad Paisley headlines the Xfinity Center; Lexington songwriter Matt Nathanson, with Gavin DeGraw, create lovely pop melodies at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion; while legendary bluesman (and Jimi Hendrix pal) Guitar Shorty comes to the RegattaBar with wunderkind Selwyn Birchwood sharing the stage. The North River Blues Festival takes place at the Marshfield Fair on Aug. 23-24, with Rick Estrin & the Nightcats among the stars.